Topic: Peter And Cornelius Acts 10:1-11:18
There was a man named Cornelius in Caesarea, who was a captain in the “Italian Regiment” regiment of the Roman army. He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did a lot to help the poor Jewish people and prayed to God constantly. It was about three o’clock one afternoon when he had a vision, clearly seeing an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius! “He looked in fear at the angel and said, “What, sir? “The angel replied, “God is pleased with your prayers and charitable works, and willing to answer you. And now for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter, send some men to Joppa. He’s a guest in the home of a leather tanner named Simon, who lives by the sea.” Then the angel left, and Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his personal servants. He told them what was going on and sent them off to Joppa. Peter went up on the roof of the house around noon as they were on their way and coming near Joppa to pray. He got hungry and wanted something to eat; he had a vision while the food was being prepared. He saw the opening of heaven and something coming down that looked like a big sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. All sorts of animals, reptiles, and wild birds were in it. He was told by a voice, “Leave, Peter; kill and eat! “But Peter said, ‘No, Lord, of course! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled.” The voice again spoke to him, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.” Three times this happened, and then the thing was taken back to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, Cornelius’s sent men had learned where Simon’s house was, and they were standing before the gate now. They called out and asked, “Is Simon Peter’s name a guest here? “When the Spirit said, Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, “Listen! There are three men looking for you here. So get ready and go down, and don’t hesitate to go with them because I’ve sent them.” Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the man you’re looking for. Why did you come here? “Captain Cornelius has sent us,” they replied. “He is a good man who worships God and the Jewish people are highly respected. He was told by an angel of God to invite you to his house so he could hear what you’ve got to say.” Peter invited the men there and had them spend the night. He got ready the next day and went with them; and he was accompanied by some of Joppa’s believers. He arrived in Caesarea the next day, where Cornelius and his relatives and close friends were waiting for him. Cornelius met him as Peter was about to enter, fell at his feet, and bowed before him. But Peter brought him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” Peter continued to talk to Cornelius as he entered the house where many people were gathered. He said, “You know very well that a Jew is not permitted to visit or associate with Gentiles by his religion. But God has shown me I don’t have to consider any ritually unclean or defiled person. And so I came without any objection when you sent me. So I ask you, why have you sent me? “What’s happening?”
Cornelius said, “I was praying in my house at three o’clock in the afternoon about this time three days ago. Suddenly a man in shiny clothes stood before me, saying: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and noticed your charitable works. For a man whose full name is Simon Peter, send someone to Joppa. He’s a guest at Simon the leather tanner’s home, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent you at once, and you were good enough to come. Now we are all here in God’s presence, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say.” Peter began to speak: “I now realize that God is treating everyone on the same basis. He is acceptable to those who fear him and do what is right, regardless of the race to which they belong. You know the message he sent to Israel’s people proclaiming the Good News of Peace through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all. You know about the great event that took place all over Israel, starting in Galilee after John preached his baptismal message. You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how the Holy Spirit and power were poured out upon him by God. He went all over, doing good, and healing all those who were under the Devil’s power, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he has done in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then, by nailing him to a cross, they put him to death. But three days later, God raised him from death and caused him to appear, not to everyone, but only to the witnesses already chosen by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. And he ordered us to preach the gospel to the people and to bear witness that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets spoke of him, saying that by the power of his name all those who believe in him will have their sins forgiven.” While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit descended on all those who listened to his message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter from Joppa were astonished that God had also poured out on the Gentiles his gift of the Holy Spirit. Because they heard them speak in strange tongues and praise the greatness of God. Peter said: “These people, just as we did, received the Holy Spirit. Can anyone, then, stop water baptizing them? “So he commanded them to be baptized in Jesus Christ’s name. Then they asked him to stay a couple of days with them. The apostles throughout Judea and the other believers heard that God’s word had also been received by the Gentiles. When Peter went to Jerusalem, he was criticized by those in favor of circumcising the Gentiles, saying, “You were a guest in the house of the uncircumcised Gentiles, and you ate even with them! “From the very beginning, Peter gave them a complete account of what had happened: “While I was praying in Joppa City, I had a vision. I saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet lowered from the heaven by its four corners, stopping next to me. I looked inside closely and saw animals, reptiles and wild birds, domesticated and wild. Then I heard a voice saying, ‘Leave, Peter; kill and eat! ‘But I said, ‘No, Lord, of course! No ritually unclean or defiled food ever entered my mouth.’ The voice again spoke from heaven, ‘Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.’ Three times this happened, and finally the whole thing was drawn back to heaven. Three men from Caesarea who had been sent to me arrived at the house I was staying in at that very moment. The Spirit told me without hesitation to go with them. These six Joppa fellow believers accompanied me to Caesarea, and we all went to Cornelius’ house. He told us how he saw an angel standing in his house saying, ‘Send somebody to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He will speak words to you by which you and your entire family will be saved.’ And when I started speaking, the Holy Spirit came down at the beginning upon them as upon us. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ It is clear that God gave the same gift to those Gentiles that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who then was I to try to stop God! “Hearing this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, ‘Then God gave the Gentiles the opportunity to repent and live as well! “What’s happening?”
Moral lesson:
- You can’t be too big to preach the gospel of God
- You being a public figure is an avenue to bring souls to christ
- Learn not to worship God long, also influence your family with the right attitude to worshipping God
- Whenever God is sending you a message it comes with peace
- Do not judge anyone whether Christian or unbelievers
- God cares about you so much
- Try never to take the place of God because you are a pastor, leader of an organisation, christian congregations, by allowing to worship you like God
- Put your faith completely in God
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